2026 AIME I Problem 6

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 6 of the 2026 AIME I, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2026 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:logarithmquadraticVieta’s Formulasfactor counting

Difficulty rating: 2300

6.

The product of all positive real numbers xx satisfying the equation xlog2026x20=26x\sqrt[20]{x^{\log_{2026} x}} = 26x is an integer P.P. Find the number of positive integer divisors of P.P.

Solution:

Let t=log2026x.t = \log_{2026} x. Taking log2026\log_{2026} of both sides of x(log2026x)/20=26xx^{(\log_{2026} x)/20} = 26x gives t220=log202626+t,that ist220t20log202626=0.\frac{t^2}{20} = \log_{2026} 26 + t, \qquad \text{that is} \qquad t^2 - 20t - 20\log_{2026} 26 = 0. The discriminant 400+80log202626400 + 80\log_{2026} 26 is positive, so there are two real roots t1,t2,t_1, t_2, each giving a valid positive solution x=2026t.x = 2026^{t}.

By Vieta's formulas t1+t2=20,t_1 + t_2 = 20, so the product of the solutions is 2026t12026t2=202620.2026^{t_1} \cdot 2026^{t_2} = 2026^{20}. Since 2026=210132026 = 2 \cdot 1013 and 10131013 is prime, P=220101320P = 2^{20} \cdot 1013^{20} has 2121=44121 \cdot 21 = 441 positive divisors.

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